Editing Cuilén (section)

== The Alpínid dynasty ==
[[File:Cuilén mac Illuilb (map).png|thumb|upright|alt=Map of northern Britain|Locations relating to the life and times of Cuilén.]]

{{chart top|collapsed=yes|Simplified pedigree of two branches of the Alpínid dynasty:<ref name="dynasty">[[#L1|Lynch (2001)]]; [[#W3|Woolf (2000)]] p. 146 tab. 1; [[#H2|Hudson, BT (1994)]] p. 169.</ref> Clann Custantín meic Cináeda (highlighted blue) and Clann Áeda meic Cináeda (highlighted lime).<ref>[[#W3|Woolf (2000)]] p. 146 tab. 1.</ref>}}
{{tree chart/start|align=center|summary=Simplified pedigree of two competing branches of the Alpínid dynasty. Cuilén is highlighted.}}
{{tree chart | | | | | | | | |CIN| | |CIN=[[Cináed mac Ailpín]] (died 858)}}
{{tree chart | | | | | | | |,|-|^|-|.| | | | | | | | | | | }}
{{tree chart | | | | | | |CMC| |AMC| | |CMC=[[Custantín mac Cináeda]] (died 876) |AMC=[[Áed mac Cináeda]] (died 878)}}
{{tree chart | | | | | | | |!| | | |!| | | | | | | | | | | }}
{{tree chart | | | | | | |DMC| |DOM| | |DMC=[[Domnall mac Causantín]] (died 900) |DOM=[[Custantín mac Áeda]] (died 952) |boxstyle_DOM = background-color: lime |boxstyle_DMC = background-color: #CEECF2}}
{{tree chart | | | | | | | |!| | | |!| | | | | | | | | | | }}
{{tree chart | | | | | | |DAY| |IND| | |DAY=[[Máel Coluim mac Domnaill]] (died 954) |IND=[[Illulb mac Custantín]] (died 962) |boxstyle_IND = background-color: lime |boxstyle_DAY = background-color: #CEECF2}}
{{tree chart | | | |,|-|-|-|(| | | |)|-|-|-|.| | | | | | | }}
{{tree chart | | |DUB| |CMM| |CMI| |AMI| | | |DUB=[[Dub mac Maíl Choluim]] (died 966/967) |CMM=[[Cináed mac Maíl Choluim]] (died 995) |CMI='''Cuilén mac Illuilb''' (died 971) |AMI=[[Amlaíb, King of Scotland|Amlaíb mac Illuilb]] (died 977) |boxstyle_CMI = background-color: lime|boxstyle_AMI = background-color: lime|boxstyle_DUB = background-color: #CEECF2 |boxstyle_CMM = background-color: #CEECF2}}
{{tree chart | | | | | | | |!| | | |!| | | | | | | | | | | }}
{{tree chart | | | | | | |CXX| |CMX| | | | | | | | |CXX=[[Máel Coluim mac Cináeda]] (died 1034) |CMX=[[Constantine III of Scotland|Custantín mac Cuiléin]] (died 997) |boxstyle_CMX = background-color: lime|boxstyle_CXX = background-color: #CEECF2}}
{{tree chart/end}}
{{chart bottom}}

Cuilén and his immediate family were members of the ruling [[Alpínid dynasty]], the patrilineal descendants of [[Cináed mac Ailpín, King of the Picts]] (died 858).<ref name="dynasty"/> The root of this kindred's early success laid in its ability to successfully rotate the royal succession amongst its members.<ref>[[#B10|Broun (2001)]].</ref> For example, Illulb's father – a member of the Clann Áeda meic Cináeda branch of the dynasty – succeeded [[Domnall mac Causantín]] (died 900) – a member of the Clann Custantín meic Cináeda branch – and following a reign of forty years resigned the kingship to this man's son, [[Máel Coluim mac Domnaill]] (died 954).<ref>[[#C4|Clancy (2006a)]]; [[#B10|Broun (2001)]]; [[#W2|Woolf (2001)]]; [[#W3|Woolf (2000)]] p. 152.</ref>{{#tag:ref|These two branches of the Alpínid dynasty are not attested by contemporary records but rather deduced as a result of the succession itself.<ref>[[#M4|McGuigan (2015)]] p. 274.</ref>|group=note}} Cuilén's father succeeded to the kingship following Máel Coluim's demise, and ruled as king until his own death in 962.<ref>[[#B2XXX|Broun (2015e)]]; [[#W7|Walker (2013)]] ch. 4; [[#B5|Broun (2004d)]]; [[#D2|Duncan (2002)]] p. 20; [[#B10|Broun (2001)]].</ref> The record of Illulb's fall at the hands of an invading Scandinavian host is the last time Irish and Scottish sources note [[Viking]] encroachment into the kingdom.<ref>[[#D2|Duncan (2002)]] p. 20; [[#D3|Dumville (2000)]] p. 81.</ref> The Scandinavian [[Kingdom of York]] had collapsed by the 950s, and the warbands of the [[kings of Dublin]] seem to have ceased their overseas adventures during this period as well. Unlike English monarchs who had to endure Viking depredations from the 980s to the 1010s, the kings of [[Kingdom of Alba|Alba]] were left in relative peace from about the time of Illulb's fall. Free from such outside threats the Alpínids seem to have struggled amongst themselves.<ref name="D2-20">[[#D2|Duncan (2002)]] p. 20.</ref>